What are the principles for moving planes along routes? What is the height of a passenger plane? Why do pilots choose certain parameters for moving aircraft in space? To get an answer to the questions presented, you need to consider the following information.
The concept of "ideal" height
The average altitude of a passenger plane is in the range of 9 to 12 thousand meters above sea level. Pilots resort to her set, because in such conditions less resistance appears on the hull of an aircraft vehicle, due to the
thinness of the air. This at the same time has its pros and cons. Under such conditions, aircraft engines consume less fuel. However, the engines lack oxygen, which is required to burn fuel. Therefore, when the altitude of a passenger aircraft reaches its maximum permissible values, engine power drops slightly. As practice shows, a set of maximum heights is accompanied by wasteful fuel consumption.
Based on the foregoing, experienced pilots choose the "ideal" height. The choice of the so-called golden mean contributes to the fastest possible movement of a passenger aircraft, as well as fuel economy.
Security Considerations
The average altitude of a passenger aircraft of 10,000 meters is selected in part for safety reasons. Why do pilots stop at this value? There are several reasons for this:
- The high-power jet engines of modern passenger aircraft quickly heat up to critical values. Therefore, they urgently need high-quality cooling, which makes it possible to avoid fires. The temperature overboard at an altitude of 10,000 meters above sea level reaches values of about -50 ° C. Such conditions are ideal for cooling engines naturally.
- The birds are not able to climb to the indicated heights. The absence of birds that can crash into glass at a considerable speed, cover the aircraft or get into engines is the key to safe flights.
- If the passenger plane has a flight altitude of 10-12 thousand m, the aircraft is not exposed to rain, snow, thunder, and other natural phenomena, since the board is located above the cloud formation area.
- Flights at significant altitudes are carried out in view of the likelihood of emergencies, for example, a malfunction off course, engine fires, failure of on-board systems, loss of communication with controllers. At a distance of 10,000 m from the ground, pilots get more time to think, perform the necessary maneuvers and make the right decisions.
Route Requirements
Oddly enough, in the sky laid their own routes for individual flights. They lie at elevated heights. Thus, in the event of armed clashes in the territory of certain countries over which the plane flies, passengers will be in relative safety. The organization of routes at individual altitudes ranging from 9 to 12 thousand kilometers also helps to avoid space congestion and accidental collisions of aircraft.
Finally
So we figured out what the height of a passenger plane is considered optimal. Routes for the movement of aircraft are determined at the headquarters of airlines. Here they monitor the progress of their movement and make the necessary adjustments. Therefore, individual planes can change their height during the flight.